A mission-specific computer peripheral provides a portable linkable work platform, useful for establishing an office computing infrastructure quickly, at low cost, and without professional computing expertise. The office infrastructure device includes both data storage (for storage of operating and user data) and a unique device identification code (for identification when the device is plugged into a host personal computer). When connected, user executable code within the device is accessed through the host personal computer to launch thereon a user-definable work space. This work space provides, among other office infrastructure functions and applications, access to programming that enables the synching of data between the device and a private internet site, as well as programming that enables the user to manage and share data with other authorized office infrastructure device users.

One embodiment allocates a first virtual memory; receives executable code of a first piece of software; writes the executable code of the first piece of software directly into the first virtual memory; marks the first virtual memory as executable; executes the executable code of the first piece of software directly from the first virtual memory; and downloads and executes executable code of a second piece of software as facilitated by the executable code of the first piece of software.

A method for accessing a service is applicable between a host and a device. Service data associated with the service are searched. The service code is sought to determine if it is available or not based on the service data. The service code and the user interface are accessed through a first port number included in the service data if the service code is available. The service code is executed to access the service if the service code is accessed. The status of the device is obtained through the service. The status of the device is displayed on the user interface. The method separates the plug-in program from the main program, which can achieve more flexible development and reduce integration time. When the method puts the user interface on the device side, it can achieve the goal of cross-platform integration and reduce the development time for different platforms.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a system for automatically generating and managing application directories of one or more applications associated with an entity. The system is configured for identifying initiation of packaging of one or more program codes associated with at least one application, scanning the one or more program codes to identify one or more parameters associated with the one or more program codes, and automatically generating an application directory associated with the at least one application based at least on the one or more parameters identified by scanning the one or more program codes, wherein the one or more parameters comprise one or more dependencies, one or more screens, one or more permissions, one or more services, one or more navigational parameters, one or more base classes, one or more logging frameworks, and one or more static analyzers.

Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided that enable software application(s) to be installed onto a portable storage device and executed by a first computing device coupled to the portable storage device without having to install the application(s) onto the first computing device. While the application(s) are being executed, state information associated with the application(s) may be maintained and also stored on the portable storage device. When the portable storage device is de-coupled from the first computing device and coupled to a second computing device, the application(s) installed on the portable storage device may continue execution from the point where the user stopped using the application(s) on the first computing device without having to install the applications(s) on the second computing device.

A mission-specific computer peripheral, incorporating an integrated biometric login system, provides a portable linkable work platform. The device is used for establishing a shareable office computing infrastructure on a host personal computer and for accessing securely thereon (i.e., through biometric identification) a comparatively extensive selection of applications, services, and functions. In its principal embodiment, the device includes data storage (used for reading and writing both system and user data), user executable code (for launching the shareable office computing infrastructure on the host personal computer), and a power button containing an integrated fingerprint scanner (used to capture biometric data for authentication together with a unique device identification code). Incorporation of the biometric login system into the device promotes its accessibility and convenience.

A system of the present invention is an information processing system for stably activating an application using a desired device. The information processing device includes: an application storage unit that stores an application associated with a device required for execution of the application; a device determining unit that determines whether the device is usable depending on whether a device driver for the device is activated; and application activation unit that activates the application associated with the device that is determined to be usable.

A storage device is operable to be coupled to a host electronic device. The storage device includes a memory operable to store an operating system, applications and to provide mass storage functionality, a processor operable to run the operating system and execute the applications on the storage device and an interface is operable to couple the storage device to the host electronic device. The interface provides a data communication path and a power communication path between the storage device and the host electronic device. The storage device has a master storage device mode in which the storage device is operable to control at least one slave function of the host electronic device and a slave storage device mode in which at least one slave function of the storage device is controlled by the host electronic device.

A storage device is operable to be coupled to a host electronic device. The storage device includes a memory operable to store an operating system, applications and to provide mass storage functionality, a processor operable to run the operating system and execute the applications on the storage device and an interface is operable to couple the storage device to the host electronic device. The interface provides a data communication path and a power communication path between the storage device and the host electronic device. The storage device has a master storage device mode in which the storage device is operable to control at least one slave function of the host electronic device and a slave storage device mode in which at least one slave function of the storage device is controlled by the host electronic device.

A setup-free software application and related operating techniques are described herein. The setup-free application is contained within a package file that does not appear as a program file to the computing system. When the package file is opened, the computing system virtualizes the installation of the setup-free application without copying application files to the actual file system and without making any modifications to the actual registry. When the setup-free application is running, operating requests (such as file read requests, registry read requests, and file write requests) are directed to the contents of the package file. Such redirection away from the actual file system and away from the actual registry enables the computing system to run the setup-free application from the package file.